Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology in Ernakulam.
What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology (IR) is a super specialty branch of radiology. Interventional
radiologists are specially trained physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted
treatments using radiology modalities.
Under image guidance (X-ray, CT scan or sonography) interventional radiologist enters
blood vessel of the body via a small cut on skin and can provide treatment of a variety of disease
of almost all organ system locally by using special tubes (catheters), wire, stent or blocking
agents. Image-guided cancer therapy (thermal ablation) is also done by an interventional
radiologist. Specialty also includes non-vascular procedures like biopsy, drainage of
infected fluid collection in the body.
Advantages of treatment by Interventional Radiology
- A significantly lower amount of risk
- Less pain (as large incision are not required)
- Shorter recovery time and minimal hospital stay compared to conventional surgical procedures.
- Most of the procedures are done under local anesthesia
Key highlights of the Department are:
Neurovascular interventions: aneurysm coiling, stroke thrombectomy, carotid stenting, intracranial
stenting, brain AVM embolization, dural AV fistula embolization, carotico-cavernous fistula
embolization, a vein of Galen malformation and other pediatric neurovascular malformation, spine and
spinal cord vascular malformation
Embolization: bronchial artery (hemoptysis), GI bleeding, uterine fibroid, prostatic artery
embolization for BPH, post-surgery bleeding, preoperative tumor embolization
Peripheral angioplasty and stenting
Aortic interventions: aneurysm, dissection, traumatic injury
Venous interventions: varicose vein (laser ablation), DVT lysis, stenting
Hepato-biliary: TIPSS and BRTO for portal hypertension, TACE/TARE for liver cancer, PTBD, biliary
stenting
Percutaneous image-guided ablation of malignancies: – RF ablation/microwave ablation